caducous

[ kuh-doo-kuhs, -dyoo- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

Botany. dropping off very early, as leaves.
Zoology. subject to shedding.
transitory; perishable.

caducous

/ kəˈdjuːkəs /

adjective

biology (of parts of a plant or animal) shed during the life of the organism

caducous

/ kə-do̅o̅′kəs /

Detaching or dropping off at an early stage of development. The gills of most amphibians and the sepals or stipules of certain plants are caducous.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of caducous¹

First recorded in 1675–85 for obsolete sense; 1805–10 for current senses; from Latin cadūcus “unsteady, perishable,” equivalent to cad(ere) “to fall” + -ūcus adjective suffix ( -ous )

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Word History and Origins

Origin of caducous¹

C17: from Latin cadūcus falling, from cadere to fall

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Example Sentences

Leaves alternate, compound, digitate, caducous; leaflets 5–7 with long common petiole.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves alternate, with stipules, these sometimes caducous, rarely obsolete or wanting.

From Project Gutenberg

Achenes short and thick, compressed or turgid, truncate, glabrous; pappus of 2–8 caducous awns.

From Project Gutenberg

Flowers white, small, in terminal umbel-like clusters from large scaly buds; bracts or scales thin and caducous.

From Project Gutenberg

Caducous, dropping off very early, compared with other parts; as the calyx in the Poppy, falling when the flower opens.

From Project Gutenberg

caducity Cadwalader

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